2010 Practice Journal

A rambling excerpt of a practice journal entry that I thought might be of some use . . . . December 15, 2010, Wednesday morning, 9:10 AM Just meditated with soft ujjayi breath for an hour. Shocked when I opened … Continued

Occasionally, it’s helpful to look at the trends in your practice over time. For me, this month started out with a focus on the inversions of downward facing dog, headstand, shoulderstand, and plough, but then, when I experienced more and … Continued

What is it about being upside down that causes such a rush? Is it the increased blood flow? Is it the heart rest? Is it because Mind rests more easily and fully when the legs are up? Is it more … Continued

January 11, 2010 FOCUS: Standing Pose Flow Last night I spent some time writing and pondering my dreams, which has been a theme this month, both at the Comfort Cafe and on the cool blog I recently discovered, Chris Guillebeau’s … Continued

Jan.10, 2010 FOCUS: Seated forward bends and twists This afternoon I practiced viparita karani (legs up the wall) on my platform bed. At first, I thought I’d put on a cd but then decided against it, so I could enter … Continued

Yogic Wisdom

The fall, the descent, and its subsequent humility can be seen as another form of blessing.

Jack Kornfield AFTERTHE ECSTASY,theLAUNDRY 'Honoring the Fall'

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.

Antoine de Saint Exupery

'Can I extend my awareness of my self and bring it to each and every part of my body without any variation This is what I mean by fullness in meditation.'

BKS Iyengar THE TREE OF YOGA 'the flower'

Indeed, when a group, a path, a teacher, a practice, or a community begin to see themselves as having 'the perfect way,' it is a sure sign that reality testing has been impaired.

Stephen Cope YOGA AND THE QUEST FOR THE TRUE SELF 'To the Mountaintop'

'Here is everywhere, every moment for waking up before we die.'

Sara Baker Michalak THE GARDEN WITHIN 'December 27'

Life is beautiful. There's treasure in every moment-treasure you may overlook unless you are aware of the impermanence of everything.

Steve Ross HAPPY YOGA 'You Were Never Born and You Will Never Die'

You who want knowledge, seek the Oneness within There you will find the clear mirror already waiting

Hadewijch II from WOMEN IN PRAISE OF THE SACRED

Contentment brings supreme happiness.

Patanjali trans.Bernard Bouanchaud THE ESSENCE OF YOGA, 'sutra 2.42'

...the 8 factors (limbs) of Patanjali's Yoga could usefully be arranged in a circle since it is by their combined power that the yogin propels himself forward along the path of internalisation.

George Feuerstein THE YOGA SUTRA OF PATANJALI 'The Eightfold Yoga'

Imagine your bones are like tiny, light boats bobbing up and down on the current of your breathing.

Donna Farhi YOGA MIND BODY & SPIRIT 'Letting the Breath Move You'

“One must first of all concentrate one’s thoughts on an object. Once one’s mind achieves a state of concentration and the space between oneself and the object has disappeared, the essential nature of the object can be perceived. Then express it immediately. If one ponders it, it will vanish from the mind.”

MATSUO BASHO 'Learn From the Pine'

An empty day without events. And that is whyit grew immenseas space. And suddenlyhappiness of beingentered me.